Increased tea yield this year

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The tea industry recorded a yield of 195.1 million kilograms during the first half of this year, which is a year-on-year growth of 38 million kg over the crop of 157 million kg harvested during the corresponding period of last year.

In terms of the high, medium and low-grown elevations, the low growns recorded the highest increase in crop of 24.1 million kg compared to the same period last year.Mediums had an increase of 8.2 million kg while high-growns recorded a crop surplus of 5.5 million kg compared to 2009.

Jehan Algama of Lanka Commodity Brokers Ltd. said sales quantities are currently being catalogued at seven million kg regularly for the past two months. Tea brokers said there would be a slight decline in the crop expected next month due to excessive rain and lack of sunlight which inhibit the growth of tea in the western districts.

"Uva is currently experiencing seasonal quality crops and there would be an overall crop reduction", tea brokers said.